Damien 118.The silence that followed was uneasy and loud. What Natalia was saying was out of the question."She was never an employee in the first place," I reminded Natalia."Well she would like to be," Natalia said."This discussion does not concern me," Isabella said in a dry tone and stood up. "I will be in the car," She added and stood up."I think it does, sweetheart, you are in charge of the end of the year party my mom is always so crazy about, and Camilla wants in," Natalia replied."I am not working with you, ever again," Isabella looked directly at Camilla before storming out.I was about to stand up before mom stopped me."Let her go, She needs to calm down," Mom said so with great reluctance, I sat down. This whole thing was making me upset.Mom sat back and scrutinized Camilla and Natalia with a suspicious gaze."Look, Ava, I know we do not get along but clearly you of all people should know about second chances," Natalia said."The problem is if
Isabella 119."Are we being followed?" Damien asked in a calm tone."Negative," Jackson said as he drove us to the office."Who were those men?" I asked Damien as my heart began to slow down."If I guess right, friends of my dad," I told her."Vito is behind this?" I asked in disbelief. The last time I saw Damien's father, he was in an impromptu conference meeting and he had been silent and sullen.He had refused to look me in the eye through out the duration of the meeting and yet he would not hesitate to resort to his violent ways."What does he want from us this time?" I asked in a weary tone."Not us, me," Damien answered. "He believes that I have something that belongs to him," He added."And he will resort to anything to get it back," Jackson added as he pulled over in front of the curb that led to the office lobby.Damien followed me to my floor and would not leave until he was satisfied that office was safe. It was almost ridiculous but it calmed him dow
Damien 120.Jackson was on the same floor as Isabella so I walked to his office. I entered without knocking only to find one of his female coworkers on his laps, kissing him. The lady jumped up with fright and hastily exited the office."Ever heard of knocking?" Jackson asked sarcastically."Is this what I pay you for?" I asked."Nope, but it comes with the job," Jackson said. "So unless your wife is actually in danger, I do not know what you want from me," He said."I need you to hunt someone down for me," I told him."Who made the mistake of crossing you today your highness," He asked."Isabella's father.""The stranger at the funeral?""Yeah. He is becoming a real problem," I answered. I showed him the pendant that was sent to Isabella."He sent this through a courier but there was no return address," I told him."It seems like daddy wants to hang around for a while," Jackson said as he took the silver necklace off my hand and closely examined it. "This is ori
Isabella 121.I noticed something about the way Michael spoke to Damien. It was beyond platonic and what stuck me as odd was that they both had some sort of resemblance and I the playful banter sounded so familiar."Let's get to it," Michael said, straight to the point. "We have reason to believe that your mom was murdered," He said.Damien and I both looked at each other."Damn it. You both know," Michael said and leaned back in frustration."Arsenic acid," I said to Michael.Michael threw Damien a suspicious glare. "That is police information, how do you know that?" He demanded."Someone sent it to my email on my computer this morning," I told him. "When I searched for the email that sent it online, there was no results," I added."Whoever this person is, they know know how to stay hidden," Michael said. "I am currently investigating this matter but it is being done secretly, there is enough heat on you as it is," Michael said.I was wondering if I should tel
Damien 122."I want to be alone," Isabella told me and left me all alone on the top floor. She had every right to be after what had gone down just today alone."She will get used to it, do not worry about her," Natalia said as she came closer to me. She seemed overtly chipper and I could not help but suspect her.Everyone was a suspect. Was Natalia capable of ending the life of a sick old woman in such a painful manner? I was not sure."I am more worried about you and your motives," I said."Damien, I mean you no ill will, I just want to make things right, the way they were before," Natalia said.I pointed to Camilla. "Her con man of a boyfriend kidnapped my wife and you advocate for her, things are never going to be the same between us ever again," I said and turned towards the elevator.Natalia followed me. "I am trying to make things right, Damien, why can you of all people not see that?" She called after me."How is she coming back here going to make things right?" I demanded."Ca
Isabella 123I could not believe that I was here or that I even agreed to he right here with the man who destroyed my childhood. I guessed that my desire for answers trumped the rage that I felt. It was a public ferry and it swayed softly in the waters.I was sitting by the silver railing and the wind blew softly in my eyes and hair. I had no idea what explanation I was going to give Damien but I was certain that I wanted to be here.I looked deeply and long at the man who left my mother and I when we needed him the most. I was shocked that he looked good. Too good. He looked like he was living his best years and it made me so mad.The best years that he could have given to my mother.He was in a soft gray old fashioned suit that clung to his body. There were so many questions on my mind that I had no idea where to even start.The name of the ferry was called The Wave and it had a mini restaurant attached to the deck. It seemed impractical to me because I wondered how it was going to
Damien 124.Her location stopped somewhere in the middle of the waters. It was silently grim in the car as Jackson drove. My head was swirling with confusion and my heart was beating fast. I glared angrily at the screen of my phone."Where are you going?" I asked out loud to no one in particular. I had no ideas why all this was happening."Is there a location we are going to be precise?" Jackson asked for the third time.I had no idea what was actually happening."Keep on cruising," I said in an absent minded fashion. Jackson sighed wearily.I turned away from my phone and looked at him closely."If this is not important enough for you, perhaps you should get down and take a cab and I will drive," I told him firmly."That is not why I am pissed," He replied as he stepped on the gas. I"Then what is the problem?" I asked."Why are we not at Vito's house, gun blazing?" He asked."Because it is a waste of time," I answered. "Time better spent on finding Isabella," I
Isabella 125.I had omitted one truth from Damien when I had showed him the email that contained my mother's autopsy. I had also received a letter from my father promising to reveal everything to me if we met. Here I was about to get off a boat.I had no idea where he was taking me but I followed him. What other choice did I have? As we got off the boat, I could not help but realize that we were practically strangers. What if all of this was a ploy to kidnap me?I had never been to this part of town before and it surprised me that it even existed."Welcome to little Brussels," He said and walked toward the sprawling rocky island. The houses were huge and perched on many hills. The houses were built in old fashioned castle style."Come with me, there is something that I want to show you," He said and I followed him.He led me to a set of steep but solid stairs naturally made on the hills. We climbed up until we were both standing on a very high hill with crashing